“I don't know what to say, if I am being honest with you. It is not too many times I am stuck for words. I am emotional,” begins the newly minted three-time county championship winner.

We mention their wait of 10 years. Castlehaven never went away following the back-to-back victories of 2012 and 13. But neither did they ever manage to go the distance.

They were forever looking at the finish line without reaching it.

Two county final defeats, both at the hands of Sunday’s opponents and one of those after a replay. Three county semi-final defeats, one after penalties and another after two replays.

“10 years knocking on the door,” Hurley replies. “I was 20 and 21 the last time we won it. It went above my head, like, above my head.

“I had a poor game today. I had planned how everything was going to go to plan and that I'd pull lads over the line. But it was the other way around. That’s the sign of a good team.”

Now, there is no question but his radar wobbled in the second half. He kicked a pair of wides and was short with a third attempt. Throw in his first-half wide and he had more misses than white flags accumulated entering the game’s deciding minutes.

It's against this backdrop that his red zone contributions were as ballsy as they were brilliant.

He immediately called a mark on 58 minutes. When fouled two metres outside the 45 in injury-time, he opted to kick from the hand rather than put the ball on the floor.

“When I got the ball, there was a lot of pressure on me. They were trying to pressure me onto my left foot. The mark obviously gives you a bit of time, so I said, look, it wasn't happening for me before that, gave myself a couple of seconds to reset, and thankfully it went over.

“The free; that’s my job. 12 months training, they are the games you do it for. The rest of it wasn't happening for me, but I practice my frees and they are my job.

“It is not about me, though. It is about the club. Forwards Sean Browne and Jack O'Neill, they are young lads. This is their first year playing senior. Going into a county final and doing as well as they did, that takes something.

“On the biggest day, we worked hard enough and we created the chances. Now we didn't take all of them chances, but we deserved the win in the end."

At the far end of Páirc Uí Chaoimh, his defensive colleagues performed the shutout their opponents had come determined to make. Nemo’s starting front six were held to four points from play over the hour.

“Our backs have been getting a bit of stick all year,” the 31-year-old continues.

“Ronan Walsh and Johnny O'Regan were outstanding. Luke Connolly and Mark Cronin are two top quality Cork footballers, but the two boys did a great job on them I thought.”

We can’t let him back to the dressing-room without a word on younger brother Michael. Six semi-final points from play followed by five here.

He dummied Kieran Histon for Castlehaven’s opener. He provided an instant response to the first time Nemo got level. He won an early second half free that Brian converted. He ended their 18-minute barren spell.

He provided the clincher deep in injury-time. He again and again and again cut in from the sideline to rich effect.

“People have been questioning him for the last couple of years,” said the older brother.

“He took a step off the Cork team. He wanted to give the club a lift. He said a month ago inside in the dressing-room that he was here to give someone else a county medal. I think he did that today to the younger fellas. He got them over the line.

“They are always looking at me, Mark (Collins), Damien (Cahalane), Rory (Maguire), etc. Michael and the likes of Johnny O’Regan are the real stars today, if I am being honest.

“I couldn't put it into words what it means. Come down to Union Hall later on and you'll see.”